Feral parrots

Feral parrot is a term for any parrot that lives in an ecosystem to which it is not native. In many cases this is due to careless owners. However, feral parrots can adapt to life in such environments.

Parrots living in non-native environments

Rainbow LorikeetFeral colonies of Rainbow Lorikeet ("Trichoglossus haematodus") have been established in Perth, Western Australia [Chapman, Tamra. (2006): The status, impact and management of the feral Rainbow Lorikeet ("Trichoglossus haematodus moluccanus") in south-west Western Australia. "Eclectus" 16-17: 17-18.] and in Auckland, New Zealand.

Eastern RosellaThe Eastern Rosella ("Platycercus eximius") has become naturalized in the North Island of New Zealand. [Falla RA, Sibson RB & Turbot EG (1966) "A Field guide to the birds of New Zealand". Collins, London (ISBN 0-00-212022-4)]

Rose-ringed ParakeetA sizeable population of naturalized Rose-ringed Parakeets ("Psittacula krameri") exists in and around cities in England, the Netherlands, Belgium and western and southern Germany. The largest UK roost of these is thought to be in Esher, Surrey, numbering several thousand. Feral Rose-ringed Parakeets also occur in the United States and South Africa.

Psittacula krameri

This species of parrots has settled in Israel, where it lives feral in cities.

OtherAlso found in the United States are various naturalized "Brotogeris" spp. (mainly "B. versicolurus" (Canary-winged Parakeet a.k.a. White-winged Parrot) and/or "B. chiriri" (Yellow-chevroned Parakeet/Parrot). Brooklyn, New York, in New York City, and Austin, Texas are home to populations of Myiopsitta monachus (monk aka Quaker Parakeet/Parrot). [ [http://www.brooklynparrots.com/2005/03/what-are-wild-parrots-doing-in.html BrooklynParrots.com] ] A population of naturalized Rose-collared aka Peach-faced Lovebirds ("Agapornis roseicollis") are found in Tucson, Arizona. Several species, including Red-lored Parrots ("Amazona autumnalis"), Lilac-crowned Parrots ("Amazona finschi"), and Yellow-chevroned Parakeets ("Brotogeris chiriri"), have become well established in Southern California and a population of mainly Red-masked or Cherry-headed Parakeet/Conure, a female Mitred Parakeet/Conure, and thus several inter-specific hybrids live in the area of Telegraph Hill in San Francisco, as depicted in the documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill.

The Belmont Heights District in Long Beach, CA is also known to have many different species of Feral Parrots which have become a local icon to the citizens of the area. They are known for their loud and unique noises as well as their large communities. These parrots can be found roosting mostly on Ocean Blvd between Livingston Drive and Redondo Avenue in palm trees.

List of parrots living in non-native environments, sorted by continent:

North America

*Budgerigar-note-there may be few, or none, left.
*Rose-ringed Parakeet
*Monk Parakeet
*Canary-winged Parakeet
*Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
*Peach-faced Lovebird
*Red-lored Amazon
*Lilac-crowned Amazon
*Yellow-chevroned Parakeet
*Red-masked Parakeet
*Hybrid Mitred Parakeet
*Red-crowned Amazon

Europe

*Alexandrine Parakeet
*Rose-ringed Parakeet
*Monk Parakeet
*Budgerigar

Africa

*Rose-ringed Parakeet

Oceania-note-these feral parrots are in fact native to the continent but are non-native to certain places in that continent.

*Rainbow Lorikeet
*Eastern Rosella
*Crimson Rosella

Asia

*Sulphur Crested Cockatoo

Reasons

No one knows why certain parrot species live in these unnatural habitats. There may be several reasons.

* The main reason may be mass escapes of newly imported wild-caught parrots from airports or quarantine facilities. These birds had a flock to help provide safety from predators and possessed skills necessary to survive and breed in the wild.

*Zoos and Gardens--some feral parakeets may have descended from zoo birds that escaped. Although some may have died, others survived and became the alien parrots. There is an urban legend at the Botanical Gardens in Brooklyn that in the early 1970s, there was an aviary of Monk Parakeets that were released at the park, although there is no evidence for that case.

* Escaped pets -- Escaped or released pets rarely contribute to establishing feral populations. Escapes typically involve only one or a few birds at one time, so the birds do not have the protection of a flock, and often do not have a mate. Most captive born birds do not possess necessary survival skills to find food or avoid predators, and often do not survive long, or return to humans when they become hungry. However, in areas where there are existing feral parrot populations, escaped pets may sometimes successfully join these flocks.

Whatever the cause, the most common era or years that feral parrots were released to non-native environments was during the 1890s to the 1940s, during the wild-caught parrot era.

To Keep or Not To Keep

Some bird experts and governments, are afraid that the feral parrots may in fact harm the native birds. In fact, parrots are sometimes killed by the government and their species banned from the list of legal pets. They are even listed as the most "dangerous" animals in the state.However, some people and even some bird experts say that some of these laws should be re-examined. They even keep the non-native European Starling and the Rock Pigeon from making nests. Some governments have let the non-native birds stay in certain places, to avoid problems because a parrot's droppings are wetter than pigeon droppings, which are harder. Some might say, in North America, feral parrots are the replacements to the Carolina Parakeet and the endangered Thick-billed Parrot.

References

External links

* [http://www.cityparrots.org/category/city-parrots/ Feral, Naturalized & City Parrots]
* [http://www.californiaparrotproject.org/lilac_crowned_parrot.html California Parrot Project]